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Show BEGINNING OF GREAT STRUGGLE . Russian Warships Arrive at tha Port of Seoul. , Tokio, Dec. 9. A strong Russian squadron, consisting of eight war- ships, including two battleships, has arrived at Chemulpo, Korea, f the port of Seoul, the capital, to support Russia's opposition to the proposed opening of Yongampho - -- to the commerce of the world. The -f f Russians threaten to land 3,000 - men and march on Seoul, should Korea disregard their warning. London, Dec. 9. The correspond- -f ent of the Times at Tokio says -f that two Russian cruisers and two battleships having assembled at -f -f Chemulpo, M. P. Avloff. the Rus--f sian minister to Corea, accom- panied by the admiral command- ---f ing the fleet, had an audience with the emperor in the course of which -f it is believed he jenewed his pro- -f test against the opening of -f Yongampo to foreign commerce, -f TOKIO, Dec. 9. it has repeatedly been reported that the Russians Have been fortifying Yongampho, on the Yula river, but the reports to this effect appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Japan and Great Britain on Oc t. 17, according to a dispatch from Peking, asked for the opening of Yongampho to- the commerce com-merce .of the world, and the Korean foreign for-eign minister consented, subject to the approval of the emperor of Korea, which was withheld, owing, it was said, to a strenuous protest made by the Russian minister to Korea. M. Pav-loff. Pav-loff. although this subsequently was denied. de-nied. Korea was then said to have strongly objected to Russia's interference interfer-ence as being a violation of Korea's sovereign rights. Later it was asserted that ' Japan insisted on recognition of her influence in Korea and the opening open-ing of Yongamphu or other ports to foreign trade. Why Russia Opposed. A. dispatch from St. Petersburg Nov. 27 said Russia was willing to concede scm-ething. but she opposed the opening I of Yongampho on aeeount of its prox-, prox-, imity to the mouth of the Yalu river, j taking the ground that it would threaten threat-en her interests and complicate her difficulties dif-ficulties in Manchuria. Some days later it was announced that Admiral Alex-ieff. Alex-ieff. the Russian viceroy of the far east, had sent a number of warships to Chemulpo. Che-mulpo. A dispatch to the Associated Press from Seoul, Korea, Dec. 5, announced that Minister Allen that day had a long interview with the emperor of Korea on the subject of the request of the United States for the opening of Wiju. op. the Yalu river, to the commerce of the world. The Korean government, it was added, had been placed in a dilemma di-lemma by the demand of the United States! It Was pointed out at the time the dispatch .of Dec. 5 was received from Seoul that Wiju was selected by the United States as a prospective port instead of Yongampho, because lying forty miles above the latter port, the country within that limit would be likewise open to traffic and neutralized, neutral-ized, a substantial gain in the extent of market afforded. NEWS NOT CONFIRMED. London Foreign Office Is Somewhat . Apprehensive. London. Dec. 9. Tho Tokio dispatch announcing the arrival of a Russian fleet off Chemulpo was communicated to the foreign office here by the Associated Asso-ciated Press and was received with apprehension, ap-prehension, though 'it Was not confirmed con-firmed by any foreign office dispatches from the far east. It was said that if the information from Tokio is correct, would almost certainly nullify any negotiations, ne-gotiations, however pacific, now proceeding pro-ceeding between Russia and Japan. The Japanese legation had no confirmation con-firmation of the Tokio report, and Baron Hayshi, the Japanese minister, said to the Associated Press that he was inclined to discredit the report. No News in Washington. Washington, Dec. 9. Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador, has heard nothing from St. Petersburg regarding the report that a Russian fleet had arrived ar-rived off Yongampho. Mr. Takahira, the Japanese minister. is also without information on the subject. sub-ject. Minister Allen has made no report re-port on this occurrence to the state department. de-partment. INCREASE IN THE TENSION. London Dispatches Contain Little Active Alarming News. London. Dec. 10. No further news has been received here' showing that the reported re-ported arrival of a Russian squadron at Chemulpo has any significance beyond that indicated in reeent dispatches.. The names of the vessels which have arrived ar-rived at Chemuluo are not given. Dispatches to the Daily Telegraph from Tokio and Nagasaki, under date ot , I Wednesday, do not even mention the ar- 1 1 rival of the squadron at the Corean port. The Telegraph's correspondents state that the situation has undergone no c hange except for an increase in tne j tension due to the protracted negotia- tions. They also report tha,t the Japan- ' ese government is buyins war materials , abroad. The correspondents of both the I Dailv Mail and the Daily Telegraph expect ex-pect that Viceroy Alexieff will start for St. Petersburg almost immediately. Leading editorials in the newspapers this morning point out that Russia is bound bv the strongest obligation to Great Britain to respect the integrity of I Corea. as it was on the understanding i that this should be done that Great Britain restored Port Hamilton to Corea. The Daily Mail's Tokio correspondent savs it is reported by the Chinese representative repre-sentative in Thibet that the Russians are building two forts and are preparing to resist the British expedition. The consul confirms the report that depredations have been committed by Chinese robbers, calling for the employment employ-ment of Russian troops, with a view to suppressing the outrages. The reoceupatinn of Mukden by the c Russians. Consul Davidson says, con- ' sisted only in the placing of forty guards ; at the gates. |
